Photofinishing and Camera Stores
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Industry Overview
The photofinishing and retail camera industry includes about 8,000 locations with combined annual revenue of $7 billion. The industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies hold more than 60 percent of the market. A typical store has five employees and about $500,000 in annual revenue.
Competitive Landscape
Demand depends on consumer income. Profitability of individual companies is linked to marketing, and, for photofinishers, efficiency of operations. Large companies can have economies of scale in purchasing and operations. Small companies can compete successfully by offering superior service. The industry is fairly labor-intensive: annual revenue per employee is about $100,000.
Major competitors are big-box retailers, like Wal-Mart and Target, and electronic superstores, such as Best Buy. Photo kiosks and mini-labs are also found in many major drugstore chains. Digital photography has had a major impact on the industry.
Products, Operations & Technology
Film processing and printing account for about 50 percent of industry revenue, sales of cameras and film for 40 percent. Stores also offer repair services and sell related items like picture frames and albums. Photofinishing labs may provide direct retail services or may process films and images for other retailers.
A typical store occupies about 3,000 to 5,000 square feet and stocks 2,000 to 3,000 items, which are distributed from central warehouses of big companies. Smaller companies buy from distributors or directly from manufacturers.
Many camera stores have photofinishing mini-labs or kiosks. Photofinishing labs use automated printing systems and paper made by manufacturers like Kodak and Fuji. Camera stores are often located in malls or heavily trafficked business districts. As with other retailers, operations center on merchandising, marketing, inventory control, and customer service.
The technology of photography and photofinishing has shifted almost entirely from film to digital processing. Stores provide services such as computerized image processing and instant printing that formerly had to be sent to outside labs. Stores can receive images for printing on CDs or via the Internet.
